As the global food and agribusiness sector faces mounting pressures from consumers, investors, and regulators alike, two major industry reports released in September 2025 have shed light on the sweeping changes transforming the way food is produced, packaged, and delivered. From the boardrooms of multinational agribusinesses to the bustling exhibition halls of PACK EXPO Las Vegas, the message is clear: sustainability, innovation, and resilience are now at the heart of the agricultural and food packaging landscape.
On September 18, 2025, FTI Consulting published an in-depth insights series examining global investment trends and opportunities in food and agribusiness. According to FTI Consulting, the sector is being reshaped by a confluence of factors, including heightened concerns over food security, a growing demand for sustainable practices, and the ever-present pursuit of financial returns. Nathan Ramsey and Ben Waters, two experts featured in the series, emphasized that investors and operators are navigating a landscape marked by tighter credit markets and increased scrutiny. In this environment, they argue, success hinges on efficient operations, robust business planning, and capable management teams.
The FTI Consulting report identifies four key tensions shaping the future of agriculture: affordability, performance, sustainability, and nutrition. These drivers are not just theoretical—they influence everything from the structure of investment portfolios to the day-to-day decisions made on farms and in food processing plants. According to the report, “strong management, commitment to sustainability and modern supply chains are essential to driving returns.” In other words, those who can align strategy, operations, and technology are best positioned to unlock efficiency, manage risk, and maximize long-term value in an increasingly competitive market.
But what does this mean on the ground? For one, new technologies are playing a pivotal role in improving efficiency, addressing climate challenges, and creating opportunities across the agricultural value chain. The report highlights how innovations such as advanced protein production systems, emission-reducing practices, and sophisticated traceability tools are meeting growing consumer expectations for sustainability and transparency. These technologies don’t just help keep food affordable—they also make food systems more resilient in the face of supply chain shocks and environmental pressures.
Meanwhile, the world of food packaging is undergoing its own revolution, as documented in a recently published transcript by Packaging World on September 17, 2025. The report, which recaps trends from PACK EXPO 2024 and previews the upcoming PACK EXPO Las Vegas, spotlights a dramatic shift toward sustainable materials and equipment within the packaging industry. Senior Editor Anne Marie Mohan observed, “The biggest trend that we saw, they’re really aligned with what we’re seeing every day when we get press releases, when we report on new CPG packaging, and that’s paper, paper, and more paper. It’s undoubtedly the biggest shift that we’ve seen with packaging materials in years.”
This shift is visible in everything from cups and trays to multipack ring carriers and protective packaging. What’s driving the change? Mohan points to two main factors: recyclability and consumer demand for plastic-free packaging. “It’s recyclability, which plays into some of the CPGs commitments around making their packaging recyclable. It also feeds into that a desire by consumers for plastic-free packaging because plastic is more difficult to recycle and plastic is seen as very negative material because of plastic pollution.”
Innovations abound. Multivac, for instance, has introduced a paperboard tray for food with a film lidding that can be easily peeled off, allowing the tray to be recycled. Greif’s EnviroRAP, a barrier-coated paperboard material, is designed for aqueous and fatty foods and is fully recyclable. Protective packaging has also gone paper-based, with HexcelPack and ExpandOS offering materials that provide cushioning without relying on plastic. ExpandOS, in particular, stands out for its equipment that forms paperboard into pyramid-shaped cushioning—an entirely new format for protective packaging.
The push for sustainability doesn’t stop at paper. Bio-based and compostable materials are gaining traction, too. Accredo’s sugarcane-based pouch is both store drop-off recyclable and compostable, while Charter Next and Sway have developed a seaweed-based polymer that is fully biodegradable and compostable, suitable for everything from food pouches to mailers. Fresh-Lock’s home-compostable zipper completes the package, ensuring that even the closures on bio-based pouches are sustainable.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing developments is Constantia’s AluKpod, a Keurig-compatible coffee capsule made from aluminum with a peelable lid for easy recycling. The first commercial application comes from Cambio Roasters, who have adopted the pod for their coffee products. As Anne Marie Mohan noted, “It’s first Keurig-compatible coffee capsule that’s made from aluminum, and the way it’s been designed, the lid also can be easily removed for recycling of the pod.”
Sustainable packaging innovation isn’t limited to materials. Equipment is evolving rapidly to handle these new substrates and reduce waste. Machines like Douglas NexClip and Graphic Packaging International’s Enviroclip EBB 1200 apply paperboard ring carriers to beverage multipacks, replacing traditional plastic rings. Garrido’s AMS-JR system creates curbside-recyclable paper mailers tailored to product size, minimizing excess packaging. Duravant’s Canopy Wrap applies a paper-based overwrap to product trays, eliminating the need for shrink film. These machines not only accommodate sustainable materials but also address energy use and waste reduction—a key concern as the industry moves forward.
Looking ahead to PACK EXPO Las Vegas in late September and early October 2025, industry insiders expect these trends to accelerate. Paper packaging will likely continue its meteoric rise, joined by further advances in bio-based and compostable materials. Equipment manufacturers are expected to showcase machines that not only handle these materials but also reduce energy consumption and pneumatic use, making the entire packaging process more sustainable.
These parallel developments in agriculture and packaging are not occurring in isolation. As FTI Consulting’s series points out, the future of food and agribusiness will be shaped by the ability of investors and operators to bridge the gap between financial goals and operational realities. FTI Consulting argues that “better information and analysis strengthen transactions, improve decisions and drive sustainable success across the sector.” In practical terms, this means that those who embrace innovation—whether in the field or on the factory floor—will be best positioned to thrive in an era defined by change.
In the end, the transformation of the food and agribusiness sector is as much about meeting urgent challenges—food security, climate change, consumer expectations—as it is about seizing new opportunities. The industry’s response, as seen in the latest investment trends and packaging innovations, suggests a future where sustainability and profitability go hand in hand, and where the next big breakthrough might be just around the corner.
